CM’s Housing Quota: Several files missing, govt tells HC

The court was hearing a PIL filed by activist Ketan Tirodkar, which alleged that beneficiaries of flats under CM’s quota were either related to MLAs or MPs or were influential politicians.

He had further alleged that the government had not prosecuted those who were allotted two or more flats, either by filing FIR or cancelling their allotments.

The state government’s lawyer, Jayesh Yagnik, had informed the court that files dating from 1982 were missing. When the court inquired why the state did not reveal it at the time of passing of the order, Yagnik said the state officials did not know about it.

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In addition, Yagnik also informed that 1,200 people had surrendered their flats after the inquiries began. He also said action had been initiated against 300 beneficiaries.

The bench remarked that it was due to government’s complacency, the High Court had to pass orders.

“We make it clear that we are not accepting what you are saying on face value. On the next occasion, we need the names of persons who have surrendered and the action taken,” the HC told the state government. The High Court had earlier granted more time to the Urban Development Department and Housing Department for submission of files to the enquiry committee, which is supposed to look into the case of illegal allotment of flats under the CM’s discretionary housing quota.

The committee had written to the court stating that non-production of files by both these departments was causing many problems in enquiry work.